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Rock Island, Ill
Feb. 28, 1911
My own dearest Mabel:
Peace in Christ!
First - allow me to wish you ever so many happy returns of this day! God bless you richly, darling!
I wrote you a stingy little postal yesterday, but if you could look in to the room here just now, you would find it in such a state of deplorable "topsy-turvy-ness" - that you would admire my courage in staying here long enough to pen a few lines. I have at odd times wrapped must of my books in packages - and in others ways prepared for an exodus. And today when I came home after dinner I found the rug gone, and the floot bare of course - and consequently a most uninviting room. Expect to move over to 801-42 tomorrow.
Today has been election day. Being that the folks have been closed only about 1/2 hour (it being 5:30 now) I do not know the result. Let me see! It was Saturday that I wrote last. Yes I went down town to the P.O. with that letter - a very brisk walk - and was the better able to settle down to work after that diversion. I did not have to work so very late that night. Got up in plenty time to look over my sermon and eat breakfast before time for Sunday school. Considering the weather, we had a good attendance. It made me feel good to have so many express the wish that I would accept the call. Hope they meant it! But I could of course give them no satisfaction. Mentioned to Mrs. E. about the China call. She advised me not to accept. "Hon unnar sin n�sta (hedningarne) b�tter �n sig sj�lf)."
I had Sunday afternoon to myself until suppertime. After that one of the deacons came over. Evening services well attended. Being that I had this moving business awaiting me here, I thought that I had better save time by travelling by night. My train left C. at 11:35 and was 15 min late. The Elfstroms sat up till train time, and then Sigfred took me down to the station slept some on the train, and some more when I got to my room. But got up in time for breakfast. Attended classes in the afternoon.
I go not think that the boys know about my having received that call- except just a few. By the way, I understand that in the weeks Augustana there is a notice about my Centerville call. I did not insert the same and have made vain efforts to have it omitted, but I was too late - and perhaps they would not have done so anyway. One of "my" deacons sent it in the same night as the st�mma.
I had a letter from home yesterday. Pappa writes "Ang�ende kallelsen till Kina - vi ha t�nkt p� det mycket. Vi tror du ej h�r avtaga den. F�r det f�rsta �r den ej alldeles f�r ung. F�r det andra �r den ej stark nog nu efter s� mycket h�rd arbete och studeier. Hoppas att du finner det vara Guds vilja att stamma h�r hemma, ty �fven h�r �r s�den mycken, och arbetare f�.�
That�s about what I expected them to say, but the arguments are, I think eighty, and they will influence my decision. As time passes, I begin to feel more and more that I shall have to answer the call negatively. But I have not been able to decide. Wrote a letter yesterday to Hultkraus thanking for call and promising to answer as soon as possible.
As to the Peoria call, and when st�mma will be hold, I have heard nothing. But one of the boys who has been there told me about the parsonage. Evidently it�s nicely arranged. The study is upstairs � and one things, I remember he said there are book shelves built into the walls. Fine! But we must not figure on that place until � well not just yet.
Olsson asked me to �stand up� � I think he said �be best man� at his wedding. Of course he admitted afterwards that it would be quite impossible for me to do that since the wedding will be in Massachusetts, but he said that he wanted to give me a chance first. (Thanks).
I have two difficult lessons to prepare for tomorrow and still I must go up to the Basket Ball game with Highland Park. Our girls B.B. team won a game with Lombard College last Saturday.
Pappa says in his letter that A.T. had bought a horse. May a chance to see it next Thursday. Br. John may come along.
I love you dearly � as always
Your very own.
Carl.

Rock Island, Ill
Feb. 28, 1911
My own dearest Mabel:
Peace in Christ!
First - allow me to wish you ever so many happy returns of this day! God bless you richly, darling!
I wrote you a stingy little postal yesterday, but if you could look in to the room here just now, you would find it in such a state of deplorable "topsy-turvy-ness" - that you would admire my courage in staying here long enough to pen a few lines. I have at odd times wrapped must of my books in packages - and in others ways prepared for an exodus. And today when I came home after dinner I found the rug gone, and the floot bare of course - and consequently a most uninviting room. Expect to move over to 801-42 tomorrow.
Today has been election day. Being that the folks have been closed only about 1/2 hour (it being 5:30 now) I do not know the result. Let me see! It was Saturday that I wrote last. Yes I went down town to the P.O. with that letter - a very brisk walk - and was the better able to settle down to work after that diversion. I did not have to work so very late that night. Got up in plenty time to look over my sermon and eat breakfast before time for Sunday school. Considering the weather, we had a good attendance. It made me feel good to have so many express the wish that I would accept the call. Hope they meant it! But I could of course give them no satisfaction. Mentioned to Mrs. E. about the China call. She advised me not to accept. "Hon unnar sin n�sta (hedningarne) b�tter �n sig sj�lf)."
I had Sunday afternoon to myself until suppertime. After that one of the deacons came over. Evening services well attended. Being that I had this moving business awaiting me here, I thought that I had better save time by travelling by night. My train left C. at 11:35 and was 15 min late. The Elfstroms sat up till train time, and then Sigfred took me down to the station slept some on the train, and some more when I got to my room. But got up in time for breakfast. Attended classes in the afternoon.
I go not think that the boys know about my having received that call- except just a few. By the way, I understand that in the weeks Augustana there is a notice about my Centerville call. I did not insert the same and have made vain efforts to have it omitted, but I was too late - and perhaps they would not have done so anyway. One of "my" deacons sent it in the same night as the st�mma.
I had a letter from home yesterday. Pappa writes "Ang�ende kallelsen till Kina - vi ha t�nkt p� det mycket. Vi tror du ej h�r avtaga den. F�r det f�rsta �r den ej alldeles f�r ung. F�r det andra �r den ej stark nog nu efter s� mycket h�rd arbete och studeier. Hoppas att du finner det vara Guds vilja att stamma h�r hemma, ty �fven h�r �r s�den mycken, och arbetare f�.�
That�s about what I expected them to say, but the arguments are, I think eighty, and they will influence my decision. As time passes, I begin to feel more and more that I shall have to answer the call negatively. But I have not been able to decide. Wrote a letter yesterday to Hultkraus thanking for call and promising to answer as soon as possible.
As to the Peoria call, and when st�mma will be hold, I have heard nothing. But one of the boys who has been there told me about the parsonage. Evidently it�s nicely arranged. The study is upstairs � and one things, I remember he said there are book shelves built into the walls. Fine! But we must not figure on that place until � well not just yet.
Olsson asked me to �stand up� � I think he said �be best man� at his wedding. Of course he admitted afterwards that it would be quite impossible for me to do that since the wedding will be in Massachusetts, but he said that he wanted to give me a chance first. (Thanks).
I have two difficult lessons to prepare for tomorrow and still I must go up to the Basket Ball game with Highland Park. Our girls B.B. team won a game with Lombard College last Saturday.
Pappa says in his letter that A.T. had bought a horse. May a chance to see it next Thursday. Br. John may come along.
I love you dearly � as always
Your very own.
Carl.